Page 114 of Book Club Confidential

Kate gave a cheery, wistful grin. “I do. He asked me out again before we even said good night, and he walked me to my door.”

Tessa felt her smile grow as they made their way along the flagstone path to the historic clubhouse entrance. Her thoughts moved swiftly to memories of Grant walking her to her door. “Did you kiss him good night?”

Kate tipped her head over one shoulder and offered her best get-serious face. “A lady never tells. And yes. I kissed him thoroughly and well.”

Tessa laughed. “Attagirl.”

Their laughter echoed through the night, and Kate paused for a deep inhale. “What about you and your handsome business guy?”

“I like him,” Tessa said. “Grant is brilliant and funny, easy to talk to about anything, and really ridiculously nice to look at.”

Kate shimmied her shoulders. “You’re smitten.”

Tessa rolled her eyes.

“It’s true, and you’re blushing all the way to your ears.” Kate reached for the giant clubhouse door and held it for Tessa to pass. “You should invite him to the wedding.”

“It seems too soon for that,” Tessa said. Though she had considered inviting him to book club. She’d ask the group for their thoughts on the matter after Hallie’s honeymoon.

They stepped into the cavernous foyer and paused to marvel at the gorgeous space and high coffered ceilings.

“Oh!” Kate’s gaze snapped back to Tessa’s. “I almost forgot to tell you. Sam’s sister started a Main Character Energy book club, too, and they’re doing our challenge.”

Tessa frowned, then laughed again. “What?”

“It’s true,” Kate said. “They’re not the only ones. Someone else made a similar comment on one of my posts. They meet at a library in Ohio.”

Tessa’s chest puffed with joy.

Kate moved to admire a row of oil paintings. “Look at this one.”

Tessa joined her before an image of the clubhouse in its original form, sans parking lot and awnings. Surrounded by gardens and women carrying parasols beside men in breeches. “This is fabulous.”

Kate faced her then, a small smile on her lips. “I took your advice and commented on one of the photos of my ass.” She whispered the final word, gaze darting around, in case anyone was listening.

Tessa brightened. “Yeah?”

Kate nodded. “Some people made jokes, but most were nice, and a lot more folks than I expected rushed in to defend me and tell me how awful they felt about what happened to me. They shared their own stories of moments they wished weren’t caught on camera. You were right. I feel as if I took back a little of my power, and I’m glad for it.”

Tessa wrapped her in a hug.

A whoop of laughter came from an opening door several yards away. Music and chatter rolled out with a woman Tessa recognized as one of Hallie’s cousins.

“We’d better get moving,” Tessa said.

She and Kate entered the ballroom and spotted Hallie with a group of women near the bar.

Tessa recognized most of the others as bridesmaids and Hallie’s mom, Claret, laughing loudly at something someone said.

Hallie broke free and headed directly for her friends. “I’ll be right back,” she called. She wore a small white pillbox hat and veil that covered most of the purple in her hair and looked especially odd with her gorgeous black dress. Hallie had chosen the vintage tea-length number for sentimentality, as it had also belonged to her great-grandmother. She loved the small capped sleeves and full skirt, which she’d enhanced with layered black crinoline beneath. To complete the ensemble, a white satin sash sliced across her middle, from shoulder to hip, and featured the word Bride in big pink letters.

Tessa and Kate waited for her to reach them.

“What is she wearing,” Kate whispered. “She looks like a wackadoodle.”

“I think her mom’s already drunk,” Tessa responded.

“Thank God you’re here,” Hallie said. She motioned for Kate and Tessa to follow her as she brushed past them and hurried into the hallway. “My cousin Olivia brought the sash and wants me to carry a bouquet made of bows from my bridal shower gifts stuck to a paper plate.”